Melting system

Abstract

A hot melt dispensing system includes a container for storing solid hot melt material, a hot press melter having a loading position for receiving solid hot melt material and a melting position for applying heat and pressure to liquefy the hot melt material, a feed system for transporting solid hot melt material from the container to the hot press melter and a dispensing system for administering the liquefied hot melt material.

1 . A hot melt dispensing system comprising:
 a container for storing solid hot melt material;   a hot press melter having a loading position for receiving solid hot melt material and a melting position for applying heat and pressure to liquefy the hot melt material;   a feed system for transporting solid hot melt material from the container to the hot press melter; and   a dispensing system for administering the liquefied hot melt material.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hot press melter comprises:
 a first heated plate having a first side;   a second heated plate having a second side generally opposite the first side; and   a press drive for varying a distance between the first side of the first heated plate and the second side of the second heated plate to receive hot melt material between the first and second plates in the loading position and to apply pressure and heat to liquefy the hot melt material in the melting position;   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heated plate and the second heated plate each comprise a heating element selected from the group consisting of cast heaters, resistive heating elements and cartridge heaters. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second plate further comprises a drain for removing the liquefied hot melt material from the melter. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the melter further comprises:
 a perforated plate located between the first plate and the second plate for preventing solid hot melt pellets from entering the drain, but allowing liquefied hot melt material to enter the drain.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the perforated plate comprises:
 first perforations having a first average diameter for preventing solid hot melt material having a diameter of about 5 millimeters from passing through the perforated plate; and   second perforations having a second average diameter larger than the first average diameter for preventing solid hot melt material having a diameter of about 8 millimeters from passing through the perforated plate.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the perforated plate comprises a heating element selected from the group consisting of cast heaters, resistive heating elements and cartridge heaters. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second plate comprises a surface feature that increases the surface area of the second plate to which hot melt material are exposed, wherein the surface feature is selected from the group consisting of ribs, channels, dimples, indentations and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the drain comprises a drain opening in a bottom surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the drain allows liquefied hot melt material to flow off of the second plate along a side of the second plate. 
     
     
         11 . A hot press melting apparatus comprising:
 a first heated plate;   a second heated plate aligned with the first heated plate and having a drain; and   a perforated plate located between the first heated plate and the second heated plate for allowing liquefied hot melt material to pass through the perforated plate to the drain but preventing solid hot melt material from passing through the perforated plate, wherein the first heated plate is spaced from the perforated plate by a first distance in an accelerated melting position, and wherein the first heated plate is spaced from the perforated plate by a second distance greater than the first distance in a loading position.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first heated plate and the second heated plate each comprise a heating element selected from the group consisting of cast heaters, resistive heating elements and cartridge heaters. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the perforated plate comprises a heating element selected from the group consisting of cast heaters, resistive heating elements and cartridge heaters. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the perforated plate comprises:
 first perforations having a first average diameter for preventing solid hot melt material having a diameter of about 5 millimeters from passing through the perforated plate; and   second perforations having a second average diameter larger than the first average diameter for preventing solid hot melt material having a diameter of about 8 millimeters from passing through the perforated plate.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the drain comprises a drain opening in a bottom surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the drain allows liquefied hot melt material to exit the second plate along a side of the second plate. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a press drive for moving at least one of the first and second plates between the loading position and the accelerated melting position.   
     
     
         18 . A method for melting a solid hot melt material using a melting device having opposed first and second heated plates, the method comprising:
 heating the first plate and the second plate;   feeding the solid hot melt material to a region between the first plate and the second plate;   pressing the first plate and the second plate together while heating the first and second plates to press the solid hot melt material against the first plate and the second plate to increase a melting rate of the solid hot melt material; and   removing liquefied hot melt material from the melting device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second plates are pressed together and heated for between 5 seconds and 5 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 positioning a perforated plate between the first and second plates to allow liquefied hot melt material to flow through the perforated plate to the second plate while substantially preventing solid material from reaching the second plate.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein pressing the solid hot melt material against the first plate and the second plate increases a contact surface area between the solid hot melt material and the first and second plates.